764 



aiKl analj'ses of 2S1 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials, 

 including nitrate of soda, nitrate of potasli, ammonium sulpLate, cotton- 

 seed meal, castor pomace, dissolved boneblack, double sulphate of potash 

 and magnesia, snlphate and muriate (tf potash, bone, tankage, bat 

 guano, home mixtures, cotton hull ashes, wood ashes, substitutes for 

 wood ashes, limekiln ashes, rag dnst, ashes from brass works, hen 

 manure, beef scrap, and nuiek, and a review of the fertilizer market 

 for 1891. 



Of" the 57 biaiuls of nitrogenous suiicrpliospbatt-s luTt- reported, 14 are below their 

 iiiiniimiui giinninty in respect of one ingredient and 6 in respect of two ingredients; 

 that is, one third of all the nitmgenons 8iii>erph(isphates in our market contain less 

 of one or of scvt;ral ingredients than they are claimed to contain. » « » 



The average cost of the nitrogenous super]thosjdiates, as already given, is $33.93, 

 the average valuation $L'8.i;{, and the i>ercentage difierenee 20.G. » » » 



[Of 43 brands of special manures] 11 are below the maker's guaranty in respect of 

 one ingredient and one brand is below iu all three. * .* * 



The average cost per ton of the special manures has been $38.84, the average valu- 

 ation $31.64, and the percentage diflereuce 22.8, a little higher than in case of the 

 nitrogenous superphosphates. * » » 



Comparing the home mixtures with the special manures, it is seen that the former 

 contain on the average (14 analyses) 0.5 per cent more nitrogen, over 1.5 per cent 

 more phosidn)ric acid, and slightly more ptdash than the latter. » * * 



The average cost of the materials (delivered) of which these mixtures were uiade, 

 without the sperial discounts which were obtaiued in siune ca.ses, was $;^1.47. To 

 this must be added the cost of screening and mixing, which is necessarily variable 

 and is estimated by those who have had expirience at from $1 to $2 ])er ton. 



If the average cost of the mixed materials is placed at $37 i)er ton, it will i>rohably 

 fully cover all expense iu every case. 



An article on substitutes for uideached ash(>s is rei)rintt'<l from liul- 

 Ictin No. 110 of the station (see Experiment Station Kecord, vol. ill, 



p. (;oi). 



OliSERVATlONS ON A HERD OF MILCII COWS (pp. 90-100). — These 

 observations, extending from November to April, were nuule on 19 

 native cows abimt L' or 3 nu)ntlis in milk at the beginning of the trial. 

 The milk from each milking was weighed and samples taken for testing. 

 The data recorded include the avt'rage yields of milk and fat and the per- 

 centage of fat; the yields of milk and butt«'r fat for individual cows 

 during the <l montlis; the amount, cost, and uninurial valueof the food; 

 and pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the food, milk, 

 and manure of one cow for 4 months. Some interesting facts were 

 brought out with regard to the relative prolitableuess of the individual 

 cows. 



Here are two cows costing the same for feeding and care; the better of the two is 

 2 months (dder in milk than the poorer, and while the one gives 10.4 (juarts per day 

 for the •> months, the other gives only 7 fpiarts, a dift'erence of 3.4 quarts per day or 

 for the <> months Gin. 4 quarts, or more than $40 worth of milk. 



Kouglily figured, the difl'ercnce iu the yield of fat would make a difference of 50 

 pounds of but ter in the 6 months. * » » 



In com]»aring the average ration of the herd with the standard, it appears that the 

 cows have had au abundance of food — 25 pounds per day of organic matter aa against 



